Track shoe



H. A` KNOX Nov. 20, 1945.

TRACK SHOE Filed Aug. 31, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm Harry A Knmx Nov. 20, 1945.

H. A. KNOX v 2,389,433

TRACK SHOE Filed Aug. 3l, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harry A Knmx H. A. KNOX Nov. 20, 1945.

TRACK SHOE Filed Aug. 3l, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /Y IIILLII I IIlllIl/ll Harry A Knnx Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACK snor:`

Harry, A. Knox, WashingtonfD. C. Appli-cation August 31, 1942, vserial No. v456,'14'9 (ci. acsi "(G'rantedlunder the act of March 3; 1883; as amended April 30', 1928; 370 O.- G. 757) Claims'.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government .for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a track shoe.

object of this invention is to provide an all welded or brazed trackshoe'- having grousers or cleats mounted thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for mounting cleatsl or grouse-rs in staggered relationship on av track shoe.

Another'objec't of thisinvention is to provide a track shoe having achevron type cleat mounted thereon'.

Another object ofths invention isto provide al substitute bearing for the conventional rubber double -pin track shoe;

Another object of this invention is to provide a` one-piece track shoe frame which is ,fabricated from steel plates and tubes and in which no castings or bolts are used.

Another object ofWthis invention is to provide y spaced relationship by means of end plates I2; Hl

a double pin track shoe having a highly coml pressed fabric bushing which is impregnated with lubricating compound.

Another object of this invention is to provide a` double pin track shoe having self-lubricating metal bushing bearings.

The specific nature ofthe invention as Well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig, 1 is a plan view of a portion of my track as seen from the inside of the endless composite track.

Fig. 2 isav plan view of a portion of :my track in Fig. 1 ask seen from the outside ofthe endless compositel track.

Fig. 3'.is a view in end elevation of a portion of my track shown in Fig.. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional. view taken substantially on .the line 4-4 'of Fig. 1 without the wheel guides.

5 is asectional view takenV substantially on aline corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section through a modified -track and corresponds to a section similar to the one shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. v is a section through a modified track aneA corresponds to a section similar to the one shown in Fig. 4.

' Fig. 8 is a plan view of a track shoe having a chevron type cleat thereon and is taken from the ground side.

and intermediate plates I4, I5. The tubes I0, II are rigidly fastened to the end plates and intermediate plates -by means similar to brazing 0ry welding. Upper wheel'bearing plate- I8 extends between end plates I2, I3 and may befwelded or brazed to the tubes I 0, II along their lines of contact '(Fig. 5)'. Wheel bearing plate I6 has recesses IBa, IIib (Fig. 4) for the reception vof portions of intermediate plates I4, I5 and may be fastened to Vthe end plates I2, I3 by meanssimilar to welding or brazing.

Intermediate plates I4, I5 are preferably disposed an equal distance from the center of the track shoe and have cut-out portions I4a, I5a respectively adapted to snugly receive centrally mounted cleat or grouser II which is fastened to the intermediate plates I4, I5 and which extends therebetweenby means similarto welding or brazing. A pair of grousers I8, I8 spans the distance between correspondingly disposed intermediate plates I4 or I5 and one of the'pair of. adjacent end plates I2, I3 and these cleats are held in cut-out portions I4b, I5b, I2a, I3a in the intermediate plates I4, I5 and end plates I2, I3 respectively as by means of welding or brazing (Figs. Zand 5).

As is well understood in the art; a link pin 2.0 is :then inserted through each of the tubes I0, II with elastic material 2| such as rubber 'spacing the link pin 20 from th'e'tube' ID, I I which surrounds or encases'the link pin.

Adjoining link pin` ends of adjoining fshoesfar'e': locked against independent rotational'moveinent by clamp 22 which is well known in the'art andV fully described in my previous patents. Thev clamp 22v comprises an upper plate 2'3 having pin encircling portions 23a, 23h and a wheel guide 23c'mounted thereon; A bolt 24 havin'g'a wedge head 24a having faces thereon adapted to contactlink pinY faces' 20a passes through aperture 23d in upper plate 23 so as to receive fastening nut 25. The track is propelled by a sprocket wheel (not shown) which is adapted to engage upper plate I pin encircling portions 23a, 23h.

In Fig. 4 it is noted that I have disclosed the conventional rubber sleeve 2| spacing the link pin member28`v may be mounted on opposite ends of the link pin so as to conne lubricating com- .10 pound which may be introduced inthe space'Y between surrounding metal tube IU and the linkv pin 20. The particular closure member 28 disclosed is described and claimed inmycopend` ing application and comprisesa ring A29 of, elastic material which resiliently and frictionally e'ngages the link pin 20 so as to prevent leakage' therebetween. Elastic ring 2,9 iscircumferentially grooved so as to receive at least one metallic ring 30 which projects beyond the outer circumference of the elastic ring 29 so as to provide a metal contact between the closuregmember 28 and the tube I whereby lubricating compound is prevented from leaking therebetween., The elastic or resilient ring 29 may be ofrubber, vsynthetic rubber or other similar elastic material so long as it resiliently engages the linkpin, f

In Fig. 7 the metal bushing 21 is of the selflubricatingY type and may be formed from metals which are well known in the art. The material of metal bushing may be of the type known in the art as Oilite ,or Superoilite which consists essentially of powdered copper or bronze mixed with some` ferrous material and a lubricating compound added and then compressed; or the lubricating material may-be added after compression. v Self-lubricating bushing 2l made of lead alloys may also beV useful for-the purpose 'at-hand, i. e., to provide a bearing which requires no periodic lubrication from extraneous sources.

The expedient of welding or brazing end plates I2, I3 to tubes I0, II, sogas to provide a trackshoe frame is well -known in the art as seen in my copending application, Serial No. 395,231, led May 26, 1941, and in the Kubaugh Patent 2,234,927. One of the important features of my invention is to vprovide at leastv one intermediate platesimilar to plates I4, I5 in Figs. 1-4 between pairs of spaced end plates I2, I3 whereby the track shoe frame is strengthened and means are provided for mounting grousers or cleats. As seen in the drawings, Figs. 1-4 there is `provided a pair of end cleats I8, I8 and one center cleat or grouser II per track shoe in staggered relationship to one another, and it is apparent that other physical arrangements of the cleats orv 1t is noted in Figs. 1 4 that the device ofthev invention has staggered cleats or grousersfon each individual track shoe, i. e., a center cleat or grouser I'I, and a pair of end cleats or grousers I8, I8. Accordingly, when assembling the composite track, similar center cleat or grouser` I'I may be mounted in adjoining relationship to a correspondingly similar cleat or grouser I'I on an adjoining shoe; or adjoining cleats or grousers on adjoining shoes may be of diierent character, i. e., an end cleat or grouser I8, I8 on one shoe may be in adjoining relation to a center cleat or grouser II on an adjoining shoe.

In the track shoe of Figs; 8-11 having a chevron r'type cleat or grouser '5E' mounted thereon by weldingorA brazingtwo `end plates 5I, 52 and one intermediate plate 53 rigidly hold tubes y54, 55 in spaced relationship. Inserts 5Ia, 52a,

53a are cut in corresponding plate members for the insertion of cleat 50 in position prior to the welding or brazing process wherein the cleat 51|] is fastened tothe tubes 54, 55 and/or plates 5I, Linkpins 56 extend through the track shoe and.` are yieldingly separated therefrom by elastic material 5l such as rubber or by means vshown in Figs. 6 andy'r?. Top wheel bearing plate l. In a track shoe, a pair'offspaced continuous tubes, separated individual end plates vjoining the tubes, intermediate plates separated from the end plates and joining the tubes, and grousers mounted on the end plates land intermediate.

plates.

2. In a track shoe, a pair of spacedv tubes, end plates joining the tubes, intermediate plates joining the tubes, and staggered grousers-mounted on the end plates and intermediate plates;Y

3. In a track shoe, a pair of continuoustubular members, a pair of` separated individual plates having hollow portions adapted to receive the pair of tubular members, means fortastening the plates to the tubular members, and a grouser mounted on the plates and extending from plate to plate. -4

4. In a track shoe, a pair-*of tubular'members, end plates joining the tubular members, atleast one intermediate plate joining the tubular, mem-.l

bers, and staggered grousers mounted on and between the intermediate plates and end plates.

5. In a track shoe, a pair of tubular members, end plates joining the tubular membeisa wheel engaging plate mounted on the tubularmembers and extending substantially the full length thereof, at least one intermediate plate joining the tubular members, and staggered grousers sup-.

low portions, intermediate their ends, a grouser having its outer portion secured to the end plates adjacent onehollow portion,"fand its central poil' .tion secured to the intermediate `plate *adjacent the adjoining' hollow portiony HARRY A. KNOX. 

